Troop Update 2-10-10

OK Jamboree 720..
The Patch orders are in.. man, you guys ordered a lot of patches.. that's great, you will have a great time with that and our uniforms will look Great.
Medical forms are in, with a few exceptions... we will clean that up at the next Troop meeting.. which will be on February 18th at 7:00 PM at the Knights Hall.

I would like to thank EVERYONE.. Our Troop is 100% complete on the National Registration!!!
What that means is that now EVERYONE will have access to and receive all the National stuff coming out..
Look for a Catalog from National to hit your mail boxes soon.. they were supposed to be mailed on the 5th of February.. so look for it.

HATS, JACKETS, AND OTHER UNANSWERED QUESTIONS....
Hats.. we got the answer on Hats.  The 4 of us have decided to have one made locally.. a baseball style.  We will get the troops input.
We can keep the cost down this way and get what we want.
Jackets...  I will talk about that one at the meeting.. lets just say for now that we have some options.
Unanswered questions... I have an itinerary of the trip.. it is still tentative, but it's about 85% accurate.. at least dates and locations are listed and we know what days we will be at the biggy's.

I want to thank everyone for their patients and support.  The fun is really just beginning.
The next couple months are going to be busy and take a lot of work.. but it is all about the fun we are going to have at Jambo!!

I'll see you at the meeting!
Remember to tell your friends to check in at this website...
I need a couple Scouts that are interested in being Historians for this adventure.  Imagination needed.

Have a Great Scouting Day!
Scoutmaster Jerry

Great Troop Meeting Last night

We had a great Troop meeting last night, it was good to see all of you again.
So here are some reminders.
Check Back here often.
Think of a Patrol name, yell, flag design.
For those of you interested (that talked to me) in Troop leadership positions (SPL/ASPL) get your resume into me as soon as possible.  Email it to:  tbirdironchef@gmail.com or gerald.schleining@verizon.net
Troop T-Shirt design.. think about it and get back to me.

On Designs:
They need to be "Scout friendly".
They need to demonstrate the Spirit of the Troop.
They need to exhibit the themes of the Jamboree... Those are:
100 year celebration
Celebration Adventure
Continuing the Journey
Cape Meares Light House/ 1st Aid Merit Badge
Oregon
Cascade Pacific Council

Please try to incorporate some of those ideas in the designs.

Gate way.. same thing.. start thinking about that.  We need to have it complete before the All contingent camp out on Memorial Day Weekend.

Thanks for such great attendance last night.

Jerry Schleining
Scoutmaster

Directions to the Knights Hall for the meeting

Directions to the Knights Hall from all points West:
Take I 84 East to Exit 13 (181st Exit)
Head South on 181st until it becomes 182nd.
Pass Centennial High School and come to big intersection.  That will be Powell Blvd.
TURN LEFT.  You are now heading EAST.
Continue on Powell.  You will come to a major interesection.  Eastman Parkway and Powell.
Go through the intersection and take the first left onto AVA St.
Ava will lead to 1st Street, turn RIGHT on First Street.
The Knights Hall is the small building behind the Olala Beauty Salon on the North side of 1St.
Park in the Big parking lot.
The Address of the Knights Hall is:
233 NW 1st St.
Gresham, OR  97030
See you at the meeting!

This link will take you to Mapquest.

UPDATES 01-11-10

Take a look at the counter above.. now back off a week.. that is when we are on a plane heading to Virginia!
We are really getting close and the excitement should really be building.. I know it is for me.
Medical forms are due at the January 21st meeting.  I can not stress enough how important it is to get those in.
There are still 3 Scouts that are not registered at the National Site.  You three will not be getting a physical form until you are registered.  Sooooo.... get registered!  Without your registration and physical you will not be going to Jamboree.

If you did not make it to the Swim check I need to talk with you at the meeting about getting it made up.
If you are interested in a Troop Leadership position, come to the meeting prepared to interview for the job. I am looking for a strong youth leader to be the Senior Patrol Leader.  That could be You!

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the meeting!

Scoutmaster Schleining

Just make a Note:

The next Troop meeting is on 1-21-10 at the Knights Hall in Gresham.
Make sure to bring your Patch order forms, medical forms, and a great attitude.. we are in the home stretch now...
2010 is finally here and we are getting close!!
Reminder...
If you are not yet a First Class Scout.. you need to be before we leave for Jamboree.  So get to work.

I regret to inform you that because of circumstances that are beyond Scouting Dave Kauth, our 1st Assistant had to step down from his duties.  I will certainly miss him on the team.  We will be welcoming Lou Loeb as the new 1st Assistant.  He is a long time Scouter and has been on the Council Jamboree team from the beginning.  He is excited about joining the Troop 720 team and I look forward to having him on the trip.

See you on the 21st!

Have a Great Scouting Day!

Thanks for the Great Turn out

The Swim checks went well today.  Helping us identify all of those great swimmers out there.. this opened a few more opportunities at Jamboree!
A couple notes:

The Next Troop meeting will be the Third Thursday of January (1-21-10)
ALL medical forms MUST be turned in at that meeting.
Patch order Forms are also due at the January meeting.
We will be selecting Youth leadership and conducting Youth Protection Training.

Here is what we are up to right now.
We have our Tax ID number and our account is being set up.
We are collecting our list of needs so we can have a better understanding of what our financial needs are.
The rest of the meetings will be meaningful and will require attendance of all of the Scouts in the Troop.

Let me say a few words about information flow, decision making, and Troop assignments.
First.  If you are not receiving information I need to know.  We try to put out information as it comes to us.  We try to keep it all relevant and timely.
Second.  Decisions at the Troop level are currently being made by myself, Dave, Rob, and Adam.  We have all been trained and understand what we need to do to get this Troop to Jamboree.  I would ask for patients and understanding when it comes to the decisions we make.
Finally.  Troop assignments.  We have no control as to how Scouts are assigned to Troops.. that is at least one level above me.  I have done and will continue to work with and lobby for individual Scouts to be placed where positions are available.  I understand that this is frustrating.  I am as frustrated at times with the process too... but understand that the big picture is opportunities for every registered Scout to attend Jamboree and have a wonderful experience.
I have been asked many questions as to how and why things have happened and to be 100% honest with  all of you, I do not have all the answers.
I have been asked when the latest date a Scout can drop is.  And again.. to be 100% honest with you.. I am not going to answer that.  First and foremost.. the frustration of a parent should not take away from the experience of the Scout.  In this regard I again beg for patients and allow for the system to work.  In the end I am sure it will work out favorably for all.
I am a firm believer that as a parent and Scoutmaster it is my job to make dreams come true.  This is a monumental task and at the end of the day sometimes we fall a little short.. but never because we did not try.  As a Dad.. I will never give up on anything that my kids value.
Our Council committee chair has stated that we are going to Jamboree with 13 Troops.  That allows for 468 Scouts from the Cascade Pacific Council the opportunity to attend the very best Boy Scouting has.. the National Jamboree celebrating the Boy Scouts of America's 100 years.  I assure you that no matter which troop a Scout ends up in the experience will be fantastic.
Do I want them all in my Troop?  YES I do..  I believe that Troop 720 will have the best time of all... But all 13 Troops need to be filled and if that means changes needed to be made, I am sure they were made with the very best of intentions.
Let's ride this out and see what happens, especially in the early months of the year.  My feeling is that as we enter 2010 the road to Jambo will become more clear and less confusing.

It is my pleasure to serve as the Scoutmaster for Jamboree Troop 720 and my commitment is to make all of our Jamboree Dreams come true!
Thanks for your trust and confidence... I will do my best.

Have a Great Scouting Day!

Swim Checks!!!

This Saturday (5 December 2009) is Troop 720's Swim Check for Jamboree.  This is a real important event as it will set up planning (Buddy tags and activities) that we will be able to participate in.
Be at the Centennial High School Pool at 2:00 PM.  You can find Centennial High School at:

3505 SE 182nd Gresham, OR 97030

181st becomes 182nd without any turns.. just keep heading straight till you get to the School.

We will have a short meeting following the Swim checks.. but be prepared, we may hold our meeting while Troop 719 is conducting theirs.. so please be on time if possible.

I look forward to seeing you all again!!  This is yet another step on the fantastic journey that is Jamboree!!

Have a Great Scouting Day!